98 THE HOT-HOUSE. [Jan. 
All the wood-work both within and without, should be painted 
white in oil colour, for its preservation and to give the whole a lively 
appearance; and the inside walls and flues white-washed, so as to 
reflect ihe rays of light in every direction, which will be of very 
considerable advantage to the plants. 
As to any necessary internal erections, there may be ranges of 
narrow shelves, for pots of small plants, erected where thought 
most convenient; some behind over the flues, a single range near 
the top glasses towards the back part, supported either by brackets 
suspended from the cross-bars above, or by uprights erected on the 
wall of the bark-pit: a range or two of narrow shelves may also be 
placed occasionally along both ends and in front, above the flues; 
all of which shelves will serve for holding pots of various sorts of 
small plants, that do not require to be plunged in the bark-bed; 
also for pots of strawberries, flowers, &c. in winter and spring for 
forcing; which being placed near the glasses, are generally the 
most prosperous and successful in their productions. 
Outside, at the back part of the stove, should be erected a neat 
shed, the whole length of the house, completely walled in, to con- 
tain the fuel, garden-pots, &c. &c. and for the convenience of at- 
tending the fires and keeping them regularly burning: this shed 
will answer to defend the back wall of the stove from the cold air 
and frosts, to stow all garden utensils and tools in when out of use, 
in order to preserve them from the injuries of the weather; and 
also to lay quantities of earth in occasionally, to have it dry and 
ready for use on the various occasions that may occur during winter 
and spring. 
Some stoves or hot-houses, are furnished with top covers to 
defend the glasses, when found necessary, from frosts, heavy 
rains, or hail; sometimes by slight sliding shutters, fitted to the 
width of the separate sashes; but these are inconvenient, and re- 
quire considerable time and trouble in their application; others are 
formed by painted canvas or tarpawlings being rolled up on long 
wooden rollers, and fixed lengthways all along the top of the stove, 
just above the upper ends ol the top-glasses; which, by means of 
lines and pullies. are let clown very quickly, and by the same means 
are rolled up again almost as expeditiously; these, however, are 
sometimes liable to be moved and dashed about by violent winds, 
so as to break the glasses; but by using the small glass before re- 
commended, the use of coverings, except upon very extraordinary 
occasions, may be totally obviated. Indeed it would be advisable 
in very severe frost, especially when accompained with a piercing 
wind, to hang and make fast a tarpawling in front of the upright 
sashes; it will be a great service, for then much less fire will preserve 
a due heat in the house; and the necessity of too much fire- 
heat, ought to be avoided by every possible means. 
The above kind of stove is calculated not only as a pinery for 
the culture of the pineapple; but for all sorts of tender exotics of 
similar quality; some requiring to be plunged in the bark-bed, 
others placed on top of the flues and shelves, and others nearer the 
